We know that many of our readers closely follow Daniela Navarro’s career. For this reason, we have compiled an update on her whereabouts and an interview with her from Moscow….

 F or those of you who don’t know who she is, let me tell you a little about Daniela.  She is an enchanting and talented pianist who was born and raised in Liberia, Costa Rica.   At the tender age of 13, she had already given solo concerts in all of the principal auditoriums in the country (including at the National Theater on five occasions).  She has also won every international competition in which she has participated and as a consequence, she has been invited to play at world renowned halls in Italy, France and the United States; including an invitation to play at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York, as winner of the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition.

For the last several months Daniela has been in Russia studying at the Moscow School for Gifted Children, in preparation of beginning university at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the Russian capital.However, before departing she left us a gift. 

Her Primicias (novelties) is a recording that should be treasured as it surely is just the start of a collection that promises to be very large celebrated.  Since Daniela loves challenges, she chose complex compositions by J.S. Bach, Stanislaw Moniuszko, Robert Schumann, Karl Maria Von Weber and Dmitry Shostakovich for her first recording.

She now also has a website ( www.danielanavarro.com  )

where one can listen to some of her magical interpretations and follow up the news on her carrer.

Curious to learn how it’s going for her we called her in Russia.

How do you like Moscow and its people?

Moscow is beautiful.  It’s an incredible city and everyone has been very kind.   The Russian people are a little distant at the beginning.   They observe you first it seems, but after a while they get closer to you on very friendly terms.

How are the classes going?

They are very good.  Very demanding but you work very hard and learn a lot. I love them!

How about your first encounters with the cold weather?

Oh, it is really, really very cold here. One has to be bundled up from head to toe.  Right now it’s about 23˚F, but I’m told that soon itwill plunge to -4˚F.  However, the snow is so beautiful…

How are you doing with the language?

Very good, my tongue has loosened up now and I also write and read Russian with more ease.  It was very helpful to study the language before coming.  For example, on the first day I could not find the language classroom and I showed the paper to a teacher that passed by (who as it turned out, was my Russian language teacher).  She answered me with gestures and I did not understand a thing, so I ventured and with the little Russian I knew I asked her for the classroom.  She looked at me surprised and said “But… how?  You already speak Russian?”

And the classic question for someone of 13 years old so far from mom and dad…

Miss them too much?

Well… at the beginning a lot and I got mad if one day they didn’t call me. But now I’m doing great. I learned that if I keep busy, I miss less…so that’s what I do.

I keep busy all the time!

Technically in December Daniela will be on Tico soil for a few hours, because she’ll give a concert at the Costa Rican Embassy in Moscow, but her return to Costa Rica and her home in Liberia will not be until June of 2010.  She’ll be here for 2 ½ months and then will come back to Russia to start her university studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Will you give some concert during those 2½ months here?

I still don’t know. The only thing I’m totally sure is that when I return to my beautiful Guanacaste, I’ll spend many many hours on the beach with my belly pointing to the sun (laughs).

If you wish to help sponsor the studies and stay of Daniela in Russia, purchase the “Primicias” CD at the following places:   San Jose:       Eureka Communications.                        Rohrmoser Blvd 150 West of Oscar Arias house.   Liberia:           Hiller Music Academy.                             100 South of the old Municipality.   P. del Coco:    Souvenirs Sussy (9 am to 7 pm)                        Zouk Shop (11 am to 7 pm)